Part of what makes the NCAA Tournament so exciting is the one-and-done format. Unlike the NBA, which uses a seven game series to determine who advances, the NCAA’s format often times leads to the “better” team getting bounced. Afer all, any lesser team can get hot and play out of its mind in any given […]
Once again, the Phoenix Suns allowed their opponent to score at will in the first quarter. There was just one difference this time: They did the same. The Suns got into a shootout with the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre and they nearly held the pace throughout. Gerald Green, Goran Dragic and Markieff Morris […]
The Phoenix Suns entered the 2013-14 season with little to no expectations when it came to postseason play. In fact, any and all expectations surrounding the organization centered on where it would end up in this year’s coveted draft lottery. But behind a first-year head coach, first-year general manager and 10 new faces on the […]
This time of the year, pretty isn’t the name in the game. Winning, however, is. After dropping three in a row to the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers and Cleveland Cavaliers over the course of the last six days, the Phoenix Suns got back on track with an ugly 87-80 victory — but a […]
Not long ago, the Phoenix Suns seemed destined for a playoff run. But times have changed. The Suns are currently 36-28 and a full two games out of a Western Conference playoff spot. Given where the team was predicted to be before the season began, this campaign would have to go down as a success. […]
PHOENIX — It is not how the Suns wanted to open a stretch of seven of 11 games against sub-.500 teams, getting beat up by a Cleveland club that had lost four straight and seven of its last nine. No, certainly not a good start. More troubling though is what continues to be a rather […]
PHOENIX — As painful as the loss to Cleveland was — and let’s be honest, it was a game the Suns could not afford to lose — there was some good news, at least. Eric Bledsoe is back. His return may not have sparked a Suns (36-28) victory, but after logging his first game minutes […]
The Phoenix Suns have lost seven of their last 10 games, giving the impression that the clock may be about to strike midnight on this Cinderella season. Now 36-28 after losing their last three games, the Suns are two games behind the Dallas Mavericks for the final Western Conference playoff spot. “I’ve got to go […]
On paper, Wednesday night’s game looked like a sure win for the Phoenix Suns. One of their best players, Eric Bledsoe, returned from a knee injury that kept him in street clothes for 33 games. Their opponent, the Cleveland Cavaliers, stumbled into US Airways Center lugging a 24-40 record and had lost four straight games. […]
Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe had a solid if unspectacular return after missing 33 games with a meniscus injury. The first-year Sun scored 15 points on 5-of-16 shooting to go along with nine assists in 32 minutes of court time in a 110-101 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday at US Airways Center. Bledsoe […]
There would be no dramatic comeback this time. The Suns had rallied from 26 down and 20 down to win the previous two meetings against Cleveland, but a 15-point deficit proved to be too much to overcome Wednesday. The Suns lost 110-101 — their third straight defeat that dropped them a full two-games out of […]
That 37-point first quarter by the Cleveland Cavaliers — yeah, that really put a damper on the narrative so many wanted: Phoenix Suns star guard Eric Bledsoe returns from a meniscus injury after missing 33 games, revives the team and fuels a run into the playoffs. Kyrie Irving and Spencer Hawes weren’t going to contribute […]
For 17 seasons, David Griffin was a part of the Phoenix Suns organization, rising from the ranks of an intern in 1993 to the vice president of basketball operations when he left in 2010. Now the interim general manager of the Cleveland Cavaliers, he has a unique perspective on what’s happening in the Valley. A […]
PHOENIX — The Suns will unveil their sixth different starting lineup this season with Marcus Morris getting the start at small forward Wednesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Yes, the change is out of necessity, but, no, it has nothing to do with the team’s recent play. Phoenix has lost two straight and three of four […]
PHOENIX — “Yes, he’s playing.” And with that, before the question could be asked, head coach Jeff Hornacek ended any and all suspense with the announcement point guard Eric Bledsoe will return Wednesday night when the Suns host the Cleveland Cavaliers. “We’ll bring him off the bench,” Hornacek said. “We went over some plays today […]
The Phoenix Suns have been on track for the majority of 2013-14 to make the Western Conference Playoffs. Unfortunately, after losing three out of their last four games, they currently find themselves a half-game behind the surging Memphis Grizzlies for the final spot in the West. The last four contests — two versus the Los […]
Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker was handed a one-game suspension Tuesday by NBA president of basketball operations Rod Thorn. Tucker got tangled up with Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin about midway through the fourth quarter of the Suns’ 112-105 loss Monday night. While the players were on the floor, Tucker threw an elbow. He […]
On Wednesday night, Eric Bledsoe steps on the fulcrum of his professional career and of the Suns season. It’s really up to him where it goes. Eric Bledsoe returns from midseason surgery against the Cleveland Cavaliers at a desperate moment for Phoenix’s playoff chances. Currently in ninth place of an eight-team race, the Suns need […]
Although the Phoenix Suns re-energized their season last Thursday with a home win over the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team which came into town with the Western Conference’s best record, Jeff Hornacek’s club has dropped three of its last four games, all against playoff-contending opponents. The Suns have fallen to 36-27 after back-to-back road losses […]
Sunday’s loss to the Golden State Warriors was painful for the Phoenix Suns because they held a second half advantage before watching the game and the win slip through their fingertips. At the Staples Center Monday night, the Suns never had that luxury of owning a sizable advantage. In fact outside of a brief 6-4 […]
Jeff Hornacek isn’t a Phoenix Suns fan. He’s not satisfied with the surprising success of the team to date. As head coach, he wants more. He made that clear following Sunday’s loss to the Golden State Warriors. The Suns led by as many as 12 in the first half of play at Oracle Arena, but […]
Over the course of the last week, the Phoenix Suns have had a love-hate relationship with the third quarter. Tuesday night, the Suns lost an 11-point advance, as the Clippers reeled off a 37-18 in the 12 minutes directly following halftime. The 19-point turnaround paved the way to a 104-96 victory. Thursday night, Phoenix flipped […]
PHOENIX, Ariz. — The Suns insisted, no matter how many times they were asked, it was never a matter of if point guard Eric Bledsoe would return, but when the injured starter would return this season. Well, the “when” is soon — as in as soon as the team returns from its upcoming road trip. […]
After two 40-point performances from two different Phoenix Suns’ players in the last week, the team earned victories in three games out of its four-game home stand, including a win Thursday night against the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder. Starting point guard Goran Dragic had one of those 40-point games against the New Orleans Pelicans […]
In December 2011, Gerald Green was a lost NBA player without a team. That was until a phone call by former NBA D-League coach Eric Musselman that convinced Green to sign with his NBA developmental team, the Los Angeles D-Fenders. Musselman, the current ASU Associate coach, recalled his experience coaching the former D-League all-star Friday […]
Alex Len will be making his second career start Thursday against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and he’ll also be making a subtle statement in the process. Len, a native of the Ukraine, has recently added a special message to his purple and orange gameday Nikes: #Pray For Ukraine. The rookie center’s homeland has been rocked […]
PHOENIX — TNT would like a do-over, please. While the nation was forced to watch the ‘Battle of L.A.’ between the Clippers and Lakers, those inside US Airways Center were treated to a performance — actually several performances — that they won’t soon forget. Gerald Green scored 30 of his career-high 41 points in the […]
Without their starting center and battling a host of backcourt injuries, the Phoenix Suns looked to be fighting a losing battle before they even took the court against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday. But since when has that been an issue for this year’s Suns? Gerald Green scored a career-high 41 points while Markieff […]
PHOENIX — There appears to be light at the end of the tunnel for point guard Eric Bledsoe. His long road back from knee surgery is nearing a conclusion. Having played five-on-five three times in five days without complication, aside from the anticipated muscle soreness due to a lack of inactivity, Bledsoe is expected to […]
Seemingly out of nowhere, the Phoenix Suns tinkered with their frontline last weekend by adding power forward/center Shavlik Randolph and dropping Ukrainian big man Slava Kravtsov. On the surface it was a puzzling move: Waiving the little-used Kravtsov in favor of a player who’s been near the end of the bench most of his NBA […]
